Valve-stem packing.



E. P. COLEMAN. VALVE STEM PACKING. Y

6' Patented De@f s, 1908..Y

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' 50km@ A Y 1 4 1 l E. P. COLEMAN.

VALVE STEM PACKING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1906. l Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

f f witnesses 'Av E. P. COLEMAN.

VALVE STEM PACKING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 190e.

Patented Dec. 8,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENT OFFICE. ny

EDGAR P. COLEMAN, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

VALVE-STEM PACKING.

' i Specification oLLet-,ers Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1908.

Application Bled .Tune 1906. Serial No. 322,292.

To all whom 'it may concern.' y

Be it known that I, EDGAR P. COLEMAN, a-

citizen of the United States, residing at the city of .Buifalo, in the county. of Erie andv State of `New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve- Stem Pack'ing,of which the following'is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled 'in` the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention Vrelates to steam engines and has special reference to meansfor making `tight the bearings of steam-valve stems and rods, particularly those which :have a rotary or oscillatory motion, as in the Corliss type 'of engine.

In the ordinary valve stem packing, the soft packing is @arranged about the valve stem "in a `sturlngbox and `held therein by means of -a gland 'attached to said stuiiing box. The packing'thus arranged'is stationary in respect to the steam chest while the rod rotates or oscillates withrcspect thereto. Itis very dliicult to keep'such packing tight as it is constant-lyl beingv loosened or dis` lodged by; thfe oscillation and gyrating of the valve-stem, consequently steam often escapesv around the valvel stem, yand l furthermore air 'is frequently admitted to the exhaust ports of the 'engine.- These 'defects materially reduce thefeiiiciency ofthe engine. The object of myinvention is to provide a packing for valvel stems, especially for those of a rotary-4 or oscillatory type, of sulch bconstruction andarrangement as will obviate both the leakagepf steam about'the valve stems, and the ports.

The particular object'of my. invention is to provide a valve-stem packing wherein the soft packing will notbecome loosened or dislodged by the gyration ofthe valve stem. A further object of my invention is to provide means for suitably lubricating the surfaces between the oscillatory members of the packing and the adjacent stationary parts.

My invention 4consists generally in a rotary valve stem packing, said packin -comingressof airto the exhaust lprising a longitudinally expansible stuliing box, rotatably fixed upon the valve stem and held between two stationary thrust surfaces and making-suitable Ijoints therewith; said stuiiing box consisting in two 'substantiallyl cylindrical members, so constructed and arranged as to provide a slidable joint between them; in soft packing in said stuiiing box,

press the soft packing, therebyl maintaininga steam tight joint between the valve stem and stufing box, and at the same time to longitudinally "expand said stuiiing box, thereby keeping the frictioned surfaces thereof in close contact with the contiguous of the adjacent stationary parts, which constitute the 'thrust surfaces.

It further consists in no vel means for lubricating the joint between the stuffing box and` the said thrust surfaces. f

My invention' further consists 1n other novel constructions and` arrangements of parts all of which will be `hereinafter described and claims.

My invention will be more'readily understood by reference tofth'e vaccompanying drawings and in which` f 'ff Figure I, isa longitudinal section of a valve stem packing'andja'djacent parts, embodying my invention; `Fig. II, `1s a cross section on line II-II fFigI; Fig. III, A1s a crosssection on lineIIIA-III of Fig. I; Fig. IV, is an end viewx of .the device, the valve stem being shown in section;.Fig. V, is a view similar toFigLI,v illustrating a `modification ofl my invention, the same being illustrated as appliedy to lal yhigh pressure steam bonnet; F ig.-VI, is a section Von the 'line VI-VI of Fig. V; Fig. VII, is a detail sectional viewv illustrating a modication of the means for lubricating the bearing sur-` 4, isa yoke surrounding the valve stem `and affording a bearing for the outer uend particularly set forth in the thereof. It 1s held securely to the face of thesteam chest by bolts nuts, 6..

The contiguous faces of the steam chest, 1, and the yoke 4, are formed with cylindrical 5, provided with recesses 7 and 8 respectively, the two re-v cesses together forming a casing for Athe accommodationof the stuliing box.' The stuiiing box comprises two cylindrical members .9 and 10 revolubly fixed, but'longitudinally slidable in relation to each other. This slid-` the member 9, of the stu able joint between'the members 9 and 10 is formed by a plurality of interlocking lugs 11 and l2 upon the adjacent edges of the `said members respectively, the lugs on each cylindrical member entering the recess between the lugs on the opposite member. By reference to Fig. I, it will be seen that any revolvular motion of one of the stuifing-box members, will impart a like motion to the it practically binds the stuffing box to the tion will be transmitted to the member, 9

v alve stem; therefore each revolution or oscillation of the stem will impart a corresponding motion-to the stuliing box. However, in this form of my invention I do not.

rely upon the wedging action of the packing to bind the stuhng box to the valve-stem.

16, indicates a spring or grip ring clamped by its own tension upon the valve stem, 3.

It is provided with a hole or recess, 17, forl the accommodation of a pintle,.l8, projecting from the inner face of the member, 10. As the grip ring, 16, is securely clamped upon the valve stem, it is obvious that any movement of the stem will impart a like motion to the member, 10, and that this mothrough the medium of the lugs 11 and 12? This prevents any strain upon the soft packing wedged within the stufling box, as would be the case was the packing alone relied upon to bind the stuiiing box to the valve stem. A. spring, 15, -is interposed between this i rmg, and a follower or washer, 20, w ich servesto confine the soft packing, 14.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that the stuffing box will always rotate or oscillate with the valve stem, thus. reventin any relative rotation between saidl stem an stuffing box. Therefore, after a steam tight joint is once made between the stem and stuiling box by means of the soft acking, 14, it will remain steam tight indefiJnitely.v As ordinarily constructed, where there is relative movement between the stem and stuffing box, the constant wearing of the former `upon the soft packing soon .de`stroys the steam tight fit, and either allows steamto escape or air to enter the exhaust. However, when there is. no relative movement between the stem and packin there is consequently no wear uponsai 'soft packin and therefore when once made tight, it wi stay so for along time.

It is obviously necessary to secure a steam tight joint between the rotary or oscillatory stuffing box and the contiguous stationary part of the engine, to prevent steam escaping itself to the and 23, 24, I provide the faces 21 and 22 with a plurality of recesses for the accommod ation of a like number of graphite pencils, 27. These pencils are preferably arranged in a double or staggered row as shown in-` Fig. II. The outer ends of these pencils being at all times in contact with the opposite frictional or thrust surfaces, any rotation or oscillation of the stuffing box tends to evenly distribute the graphite in small but suiicient quantities over the frictional surfaces.

In Figs. V and VI, I illustrate a modification of my invention, the same being shown as applied to a high-pressure steam-bonnet.

This modification differs from the above form principally in that the spring, 15, is replaced by a plurality of small helical springs, 30. I have found that under some conditions a number of springs, so arranged, is better adapted to maintain a steam tight joint between the stuffing box and thrust surfaces, than o ne larger spring is capable of doing. Theother points of difference between this and the preceding form are merely in such details of construction as will facilitate the assembling of the device. With this object in View, the ring, 20,.is replaced by a dee er one, forming a spring cage, 31; and the cylindrical member 10, is made somewhat deeper than in the preceding form. The ring' interposed between the member 10, and the stationary part of the engine, may be made conical or with a spherical bearing face, the better. to adapt rations of the valve stem and at the same tlme maintain a tight joint.

In Fig. VIII, I illustrate a further modification of my invention, in so vfar as the lubricating means is concerned. In this modification I provide the contiguous frictional faces with similar polygonal oil grooves 35 and 36. Oil introduced to the groove 36 through the oil hole, 37, is fed to.4

' joint with a thrust surface, 44, upon thestationary part, l. The member 41, is prefj erably solid, 'save where it is bored for the accommodation of the valve-stem, 3.5 It is also provided with an annular flange, 45, .havlng one or more hole s, 46, to receive dowels or pins 47, projecting from the outer face of the flange, 42. The outer face of the member, 41, is finished to provide a smooth surface, 48, to bear against the thrust surface, 49, formedupon the inner face of the yoke, 4. l j

A spring 50,'is'jinterposed between the inner end of themember, 40, and a follower ring or washer', 51. This spring keeps the soft packing, 52, contained in the cylindrical member, 40, well compressed, forming a steam tightjoint between'thel stem 3 and stuffing' box. The tensionof thel'spring, 51, also kee s the bearing surfaces 43 and 48 of the stu ng box in close contact withthe thrust surfaces 44 and 49,; thereby maintaining a steamtight joint between the rim 42,. of the stuiiing box andl the steam bonnet.

The bearing surfaces 43, 44 `and 48, 49v

are to be suitably lubricated and to this end...

either of the aforementioned methods may. be used. I have illustrated the surfaces as provided with oil grooves such as shown and described in connection with. Fig. VII of the drawings. However, I mayv provide them with the graphite lubrication as illustrated in Figs. I and II.

It is obvious that numerous modifications of my invention may-be made' by anyone skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of my' invention; therefore I do not confine myself to the s ecific constructions and .arrangements o parts as illustrated in the drawings 'and hereinafter described. l

`Having thus-described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a valve stem packing, a rotary valve stem, in combination with its bearing, a longitudinally expansible stuing box, I a member holding said box against rotation on said stem, packing in said box, a spring in.

said boxesl between said packing and one member or end of the box and means closing the joint between saidbox and said bearing, substantially as' described.y

2. In a valve stem packing, a valvestem, a steam bonnet, bearings therein for said valve'stem, a yoke attached to said .steam bonnet, and thrust surfaces upon said steam. bonnet and yoke respectively, in combination with a longitudinally expansible stuifing box, rotatably fixed upon said valve stem, suitable bearing surfaces upon said stufling box for engagement with sald thrust j surfaces, packingin said etui-ling box and 'a sprlng or springs arranged in said box and adapted to compress said packing against one end thereof and the valve stem and also adapted to expand said stutling box against v7o said thrust surfaces, substantially as described. v

3. In a valve stem packing, .-a valve stem, bearings for said stem, and thrust surfaces uponJ said bearings, in combination with a longitudinally expansible stuiiing box held between said thrust bearings, a ring rotatably securing said stuffing box upon said' stem, packing in lsaid box and a spring ar` ranged between said ring and said packing tocompress the packing upon the stem and expand said boxagainst said thrust surfaces,

stantially as described.

4. In a valve stem packing, ai valve stem, bearings'for said valve stem and'thrust sur- 85 faces upon said bearings, in combination with a longitudinally` expansible stuffing box containing packing material and held vbetween said thrust surfaces, a member rotatably securing said stuffing box upon said valve stem, and means located within said "st uing box adapted to longitudinally expand said stuffing box, and compress said packing substantially asA and for the purpose described.

5. 'A valve stem and its bearing, in combination with a two part stufing box provided. on said stem and adapted for rotation there; with, compressible packing arranged between the parts of thel rotatable box, a spring also arranged between said parts and acting upon saidpacking to compress the same in the end of the box and upon said stem and means closing the' joint between said box and said bearing, substantially as described.

6.l A valve stem and its bearing, in combiv nation with an expansible packing boxarranged onsaid stem, means securing the box to the stem for rotation therewith, soft packing provided in said box, means closing. the joint between the box and the bearing and a spring also in saidbox and acting to compress said packing and force the end of the box against said bearing, substantiallyl as described. Y

7. In a valveste'm packing, a valve stem, a longitudinally expansible stuffing box upon said valve stem, .said stuiiing box comprising two substantially cylindrical members rota. tably xedbutslidably movable in relation to each other, means for rotatably securing one of said cylindrical members upon the valve stem,and bearing surfaces upon the exterior of each said cylindrical member, in combination With a steam bonnet and yoke, thrust surfaces upon said bonnet and yoke adapted to be engaged by the bearing surfaces on said cylindrical members, -packing -within the stuffing box and a spring or springs within said stufling box adapted to compress said packing and expand said stuling box to maintain a tight joint be vtween said thrust surfaces and said bearing exterior of each said cylindrical member, in

combination with a steam bonnet and yoke, thrust surfaces upon said bonnet and yoke adapted to be engaged by the bearing surfaces of said cylindrical members, packing Within the stufling box, a spring or springs within said stuiing box adapted to compress said packing and expand said stuing box to maintain a tight joint between said thrust surfaces and said bearing surfaces respectively andmeans for lubricating the joints between said surfaces, substantially as and for the purpose described.

(.9. A valve stem packing comprising a valve stem and its bearing, in combination,

with a longitudinally expansible stuiing box arranged igon the bearing, a `member securing the st ng box upon the stem for rotation therewith, a packing within the box, a

spring for at once compressing the packing and expanding the box, thrust surfaces upon said bearing and the box provided with pits and graphite filling said pits, substantially as described.

10. A valve stem packing comprising a rotary valve stem and its bearing, in combination with-a member fastened on said valve stem, means closing the joint betweensaid `member and said bearing, soft packing engaged with said member and closing the joint between the same and the valve stern and a spring also rotatable with the valve stem and acting upon said packing and said member to keep both joints tight, substantially as described.

Intestimony. whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 12th day of March, 1906, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

y E. P. COLEMAN.. Witnesses M. SIMON, S. AUSTIN. 

